The 'Doc Martin' star was dropped from the long-running car insurance ads - which feature a nodding dog called Churchill - after being disqualified from driving.

A spokesman for the company said: ''We have worked with Martin Clunes in a brand advertising campaign since December 2011. Martin Clunes recently informed Churchill Insurance that his driving licence has been suspended after he accumulated penalty points for four speeding offences.

''Churchill Insurance currently has no adverts with Martin Clunes on air and will be moving forward with new advertising in the New Year.''

Martin had reached the maximum 12 points on his driving licence after accumulating speeding offences and was ''deemed incompatible'' with the brand's image, the Telegraph newspaper reports. The 50-year-old actor had starred opposite the nodding dog for nearly a year.

This is reminiscent of a 2005 incident when comedian Vic Reeves was dropped as the voice of the dog after being caught drink driving.